Canada

–Originally published in the St. Marys Independent–

I was afraid.

The trail was steep and smooth from a recent rainfall. I took a couple of clumsy steps down, slipped and gave into my own fear by retreating to the top. I was angry at myself and more than a little embarrassed, but rather than fall into self-pity I took the opportunity to breathe in the beauty of Horsethief Canyon from above. A mama and baby prairie dog popped in and out of their den and I crept closer to capture their photos. The mama skittered away to a nearby den and snacked on a leaf while keeping a close eye on us. Unlike me and his mother, the baby prairie dog had no fear. He ran over and climbed atop my running shoe for a brief second before running around my leg. I crouched to get some close-ups of his antics and he posed before scampering away. While wandering around on my own, I found a second trail leading down into the canyon. It appeared to be more stable than the first and I debated trying but decided going down alone wouldn’t be the smartest choice. In hindsight, I believe I was just giving into the fear again.

My travel partners had made the full descent into the canyon then climbed a new peak. I snapped their photos from afar and admired their youth, confidence and physical abilities. While youth isn’t something I can get back, confidence and health most certainly are. I vowed I would return to this place and make that descent with bravado.

The next day we returned to the badlands, this time at Dinosaur Provincial Park. Located over two hours away from Calgary, the park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the largest archeological site in the world for dinosaurs from the late cretaceous period and everything taken from the park goes to the Royal Tyrrell Museum. While fully intact dinosaur skeletons are not a regular discovery, over 300 of them have been found in Dinosaur Provincial Park.

We started our tour with a few stops just off the road so we could take photos and look for bones lying about. Our guide told us “If you throw your hat and don’t find a dinosaur bone, you’re doing something wrong”. She certainly had no difficulty spotting them, and after a few minutes of figuring out the difference between a fossil and iron stone, I started to find them too. I asked if we would report where we see bones and she shook her head and laughed.

“No, we have enough bones.”

Soon we reached our destination and I was faced with a new hiking opportunity into the canyons. It wasn’t a terribly challenging descent, but I felt somewhat redeemed from yesterday. My enthusiasm for the upcoming dinosaur bone dig far exceeded any fear that may have prevented me from pushing forward.

The guided excavation is something that anyone can take part in with pre-booking. A one-day dig is a seven-hour adventure that includes two hours of training before heading into an authentic dig location and assisting the paleontologists to find and exhume dinosaur bones. There are also two and three-day digs that include accommodations and food, but we were doing a quick two hour dig just to get a taste of how it all works.

Once we reached the dig location we met a woman from France and a couple from England who were working on some exposed bones. Using dental tools and a paint brush, they were carefully brushing the dirt and sand off bones that are 75 million years old. Some of our group joined them while three of us were taken to an area to dig in search of new bones in a new area. Using a small trowel and hammer, we carefully moved through rocks and earth that no human had ever touched before. Every rock that appeared a little different was examined carefully before we gathered the excess, loaded it in a small bin and tossed it over the side of the canyon. We were told that the likelihood of finding something in that exact area was slim, since it wasn’t as deep as they usually find them, but it had happened in the past. We dug on. It is a job that requires patience.

My two companions moved to help with the exposed bones and I carried on alone, enjoying the quiet of the badlands. Working in this breathtaking location is calming. It helps me re-center. I could have stayed and dug for hours and I believe I would have found something had I continued, but time was not on my side.

Before leaving, I also moved to the exposed bones and took a turn with the dental tools. I don’t know what type of dinosaur I was unearthing, but it didn’t matter. I was helping to expose something that could lead to future discoveries and that was knowledge enough.

Our summer visit to Mont Tremblant had been anticipated for awhile. The kids were excited to go ziplining and I was looking forward to spending some time with nature in the Appalachians. We would be doing a few new things this time around, including Tonga Lumina.

Each of my children had asked this question over the past few days, and now my husband was wondering the same thing. I didn’t really have an answer for them, other than what I had read on signs through the Mont Tremblant Pedestrian Village.

My lame description did nothing to instill excitement to keep the kids up past their bedtimes and drag them through the mountains at night, but it’s my job so there were no objections. We were scheduled for the 9:30pm showing and the line-ups were already quite long by 9pm. The vast amount of interest in this new activity certainly peaked my curiosity while we waited.

Our turn arrived and we were each given a medallion to wear around our necks. It was white at first but as we made our way up the gondola and into the mountains it began to glow. It was the beginning of a magical journey called Tonga Lumina.

A NIGHT WALK IN SEARCH OF THE GIANT

Legend has it that a sleeping giant calls Mont Tremblant home. The last survivor of his kind, this mythical being is the ancestral protector of the fauna, the flora and the rivers. For thousands of years, his great wisdom was so revered and sought after that his descendants would return to Mont Tremblant from far and wide every time he awoke from his slumber.

The giant’s legendary wrath has inspired fear since ancient times. Even today, if anyone disobeys the sacred laws of nature, the power of his fury makes the mountainside tremble.

A guardian of the forces of nature, the giant hasn’t risen from his slumber in many years. But with the first rays of summer, his whispers were heard, and a trail of glowing hand and footprints were discovered deep in the Mont Tremblant forest. The spirits of the forgotten people, who had vanished long ago, suddenly emerged from the darkness to watch over the travellers that venture into the woodlands.

After all of this time, the giant has awoken so that you, too, will find your way to him.

“What secret does he have to share?

Will the journey be a risky one?”

The curious and inquisitive souls who set out to uncover the giant’s mysteries will embark on a quest where the real meets the

fantastical. Their precious amulet will help guide them to places that still bear the marks of the forgotten people’s veneration for their illustrious giant.

Clues left along the winding path will guide you into the heart of this mysterious mountain. The giant is waiting. Are you ready to follow his tracks?

The slightly damp woodsy smell in the air and the evening animal sounds create the perfect backdrop for this journey to find the giant. Signs along the way give clues and nudge you forward in hopes of making a new discovery. There are many fantastic discoveries to be found, many in the form of light shows that dramatically fill the trees and sky around you.

As we walked along the path we came across portals. These interactive spots allowed you to place your hand and receive your own personal light show. It was the perfect way to interrupt the climb up the mountain and personalize the adventure. Our medallions also continued to change colour as we ventured further along the path.

While the lights and colours were breathtaking, the story we were following was the backbone of our journey. A tale of nature and emergence, our search for the giant was filled with wonder. When we reached the end, we all stood in silence and enjoyed the conclusion of our hunt.

On the walk back to the pedestrian village, I contemplated the amount of time and resources it must have taken to develop Tonga Lumina. It was truly impressive and I’m happy to hear it will be an annual summer attraction at Mont Tremblant. I can’t wait to do it again next year!

A change of scenery is really nice, especially in the summer months when the kids are climbing the walls and complaining of boredom. When that change of scenery includes Georgian Bay, it’s absolutely breathtaking. My family and I had never visited Wasaga Beach before, and the kids and I had never seen Georgian Bay before, so this was a real adventure for us! We headed off to a Parkbridge resort called Lakes of Wasaga.

Located at Wasaga CountryLife Resort, Lakes of Wasaga offers cottages and chalets that you can rent or buy and are suitable for visitors all year long. With skiing, snowmobiling and snowboarding available in the area, it’s great for the winter enthusiast, and the golf, fishing, boating and swimming will appeal to those of us who like the warm weather.

My family stayed in a three bedroom chalet located at 23 Madawaska Trail. The chalet is fully furnished and comes equipped with laundry, barbecue, television and all of the comforts of home.

I was particularly fond of the gorgeous wood throughout the house and the sun porch that the kids enjoyed spending time in. We had to bring our own bedding and towels, and of course pick up our own groceries, and in exchange we were able to enjoy the space of an entire home rather than a hotel room.

The owners of the chalet have done a wonderful job of decorating and making the house feel like a real retreat. As huge Disney fans, we loved finding a little Disney magic in the house too! The kids loved the big colourful chairs on the front porch and enjoyed a lot of time sitting outside.

There is a lot to do outside of the chalet too. The resort offers an indoor pool and three outdoor pools (one is adults only), a splash pad, playgrounds, a mini golf course, sports and recreation areas and many opportunities for fishing and taking part in park activities. There is also a path that leads you right down to the beach where you can enjoy a full day of sun and fun.

You can rent a chalet like the one we stayed in for individual nights or for an entire week. The weekly rates vary depending on the time of year, but range from $950 – $1650 for 3 bedrooms that will allow up to eight guests. Two bedroom chalets range in price from $850 – $1320 a week, and cottages are also available for rent.

Visit Parkbridge.com to learn more about their resorts and vacation spots.

The Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto is a CAA/AAA Four Diamond hotel located in the heart of downtown Toronto. Guests can easily access the city’s most thrilling destinations, from the bustling financial district to the lively Lake Ontario waterfront.

I recently had the privilege of staying at the Westin Harbour Castle Toronto. Located right on the harbour, this beautiful hotel gives visitors an amazing view of the lake and the dock, but the beautiful views are just part of the charm. Upon arrival at the Westin Harbour, we were greeted with friendly smiles. When I made special requests for a late departure time, they quickly made that adjustment to our reservation. We were given the keys to our corner suite and we made our way through the gorgeous lobby to the elevators.

Our room was incredible. It was warm and inviting and very spacious. One entire wall was made up of windows that gave us an extraordinary view of the harbour. I was a little concerned that there would be too much light and noise at night because of our location but the building must be well sound proofed because I heard nothing and the curtains blacked out all lights.

There was a full gym, a pool and a rooftop tennis courts at the hotel. It’s location made it easy to walk wherever we needed to go in the downtown area. Some area construction made it a little difficult to drive right around the hotel but they had signs to direct around it and were managing as best as possible. The valet was quick and courteous with parking and returning our van.

My busy schedule didn’t allow me to visit the hotel restaurant, but it looked amazing and the view from there is incredible too. On that side of the hotel you get a perfect view of the CN Tower.

I love amusement parks and roller coasters, and I am blessed with at least one child who loves them too. Avery is a bit of a daredevil. She’s not quite 9 years old yet and she will ride any roller coaster that she is tall enough to get on…and she puts her hands up in the air when she’s on them! She’s such a thin little thing that I always worry she’s going to fly right out of the ride, so I wish she would at least hold on!

Canada’s Wonderland is the closest amusement park to us, and we visit every year. They have some of the coolest roller coasters I’ve ever been on, and when you’re ready to cool off you can visit the water park. Splash Works has something for all ages and it’s free with admission to the park. It’s definitely worth checking out!

Here are some of the top amusement parks in North America, along with the number of roller coasters each one has and what the approximate cost of admission is. It’s a great tool when planning your family vacations!

About The Westin Harbour Castle Toronto

The Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto is a CAA/AAA Four Diamond hotel located in the heart of downtown Toronto. Guests can easily access the city’s most thrilling destinations, from the bustling financial district to the lively Lake Ontario waterfront.

The Westin Harbour Castle Toronto boasts the following:

It is a Green Hotel

It is pet friendly

It offers the Westin Kids Club

Westin Kids Club

Bring the family to Toronto, as The Westin Harbour Castle features the Westin Kids Club®. Kids between ages 4-16 can escape and enjoy:

Westin Kids Club® is open from 7:00am-11:00pm daily

Features:

Nintendo® Wii™

Board games

Karaoke machine

Play area on the pool deck

The Westin Harbour Castle is the perfect Toronto destination for families. They have a newly renovated swimming pool, a gym, dining and a number of activities for children and families. They have some special activities planned for March Break and Easter.

March Break Activities

VISIT TORONTO WITH YOUR FAMILY

Visit our concierge for information on some of Toronto’s great sites: CN Tower, the Hockey Hall of Fame, the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Harbourfront Centre, tickets for The Wizard of Oz musical, and more!

SWIMMING POOL

Come visit our newly renovated swimming-pool, located on the 5th floor. Open from 5am to 11pm daily. Pool toys available.

CHILDREN’S ACTIVITY CENTRE

Located on the 5th floor. Open from 5am to 11pm daily. Enjoy our brand new karaoke machine and WII video game.

COMPLIMENTARY SHUTTLE TO THE EATON CENTRE

This winter, we are offering a complimentary daily shuttle from the hotel to the Eaton Centre. One departure daily at 10:20 am. Visit our concierge desk the day before to reserve your seats and for more information.

SPORTS IN THE HOTEL and NEARBY

Squash courts and WestinWORKOUT fitness studio are located on the 5th floor across from the swimming pool. Complimentary equipment provided. Open from 5am to 11pm daily. The Natrel Rink at Harbourfront Centre is only a 5-minute walk west of the hotel. Show your room key
and get a 2 for 1 skate rental.

SPG KIDS PASS

Take advantage of this time limited offer. For $14 per day, children (ages 12 and under) receive a wristband and can enjoy unlimited food and beverage during their stay. For more details, ask a front desk associate.

WIN YOUR NEXT STAY WITH US

Your child was given a Westin Kids Passport. For each March Break Activity you and your family participate in. Submit the passport at checkout to be entered into a draw to win a 1-night Family Getaway to the Westin Harbour Castle! The more stickers, the more chances to win!